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Saturday, January 19, 2013

Missed their wakeup call

Anders Lee (Notre Dame)

It was the night before the NHL season started and nobody was stirring not even a New York Ranger's prospect. And that described the efforts of the Ranger prospects Friday night as few if any played well enough to write home about.

The New York Islander prospects had better efforts even if not all of them walked away with wins. Unlike the NHL, there is little excuse for any prospect not to be playing their best hockey.

This is where contracts are earned and if you are on the bubble then your margin for error is next to none.

Tonight's Star Anders Lee Notre Dame

Anders Lee (NYI 2009 6th) did his best but he was unable to prevent 4th ranked Notre Dame from losing their 3rd straight 5-4 to the Alaska Nanooks.

Lee had a 1-2-3 night but a goal with just 3 seconds left in regulation cost the Fight Irish. For Lee what was a special night for him winds up with frustration.

The video courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics

Notre Dame was their own worst enemy here as while they held a 1-0 lead thanks to Lee's 13th goal at 5:27 of the first, Alaska scored twice in a span of 45 seconds to grab the lead at 2-1 of the period.

Alaska made it 3-1 with a goal late in the second period but Lee set up teammate Austin Wuthrich for a goal to cut the lead to 3-2. The game would stay that way until midway in the 3rd as Notre Dame would tie the game on a shorthanded goal.

Alaska would regain the lead and Notre Dame would tie it with just over 4 minutes left in regulation as Lee would earn a secondary assist on the goal. It was Lee's NCAA career 100th point but it was not going to be a celebration after the last 2nd goal ruined Notre Dame's evening.

For Lee he is 54-46-100 at Notre Dame all-time and 13-9-22 on this season.